1. Don’t spread yourself too thin:
This has nothing to do with your weight! Learn how to focus your time and energy wisely. I had so many friends and totally exhausted myself trying to see each and every one of them all of the time. There is nothing wrong with having loads of friends, but do not neglect yourself, your family and the real important humans in your life.
2. Be confident – everyone is a human:
You are just as good as everyone else. Do not be scared of the CEO or that moody manager (even if they are two times your age). Show respect to everyone, but be confident in your own self-worth. Basic rule of thumb: their poop smells too!
3. There is no such thing as growing up:
It is a scary reality when you learn that there is no such thing as a “grown up”. Adults are just like you. Same fears, same problems. Potentially, they may more life experience, insight and wisdom, but potentially not. The truth is, and I apologise, there will never be an age where you feel like you have got it all together. As you get older, you will just face new problems and different versions of the old ones. Be prepared and be brave!
4. Listen:
It might sound like a simple thing, but it is surprising how few people do it! You never know what you might learn. People have different life experiences and therefore different knowledge to impart. Obviously, be smart about it: for example, do not spend hours every day listening to a girl at work whine about her latest man-of-the-moment and his ex and her mother and some text from…you get the picture!
5. Adventure somewhere:
Not everyone is a travel lover. Until the age of 24, I never thought I would leave my beautiful seaside hometown. But here I am, living on the other side of the world (this is the extreme).
I do think it is important to explore. Explore your country, your state, the neighbouring state, another country. Travelling and meeting people outside your own network is vital. It puts your life into perspective and you can gain an insight into others that is second to none.
6. Learn to be alone and love it:
Being happy in your own company is crucial. I am not suggesting 7 years in Tibet on a mountain with a goat as an occasional companion! Be happy to be single, if you are. Go to the movies on your own at least once. Have coffee with yourself. Visit a park or museum alone. You are your best friend and your companion for life, get to know yourself!
7. Save money:
Whether you are the #youngmoney when you go out or the person who always leaves before their round, you should save money. You never know when you will need it: Mini-break with the girls to get away from real life or just that emergency massage to avoid becoming an axe-murderer.
8. Binge drink, but no more binge eat:
Unfortunately, after 25 your metabolism does slow *massive sob*! This means after a night of five cosmos, two tequilas and some pink thing, some guy bought for you at some bar, you cannot get your Uber to go via McD’s where you order everything on the display menu. This is not unless you are planning to hit the gym the next day instead of watching Friends re-runs and sobbing into a bowl of ice-cream about how your life resembles that of Bridget Jones’.
9. Be kind:
I am not one for quotes at all. There is literally only one that has stayed with me years and it is by Maya Angelou:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ‘nuff said #allthefeels
10. Smile for photos:
Some pouts are funny, possibly cute, and maybe even sexy. But more likely than not, one day when looking back, you will not only want to be remembered by your duck face! So, also smile for those group photos, laugh when appropriate and be your beautiful self *quack*
KatyApple 